Cancer to Computer: A Case Study of Women Building Social Support Relationships Online to Aid in Cancer Recovery

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The American Cancer Society (2020) estimated that over 8.7 million female cancer survivors were living in the United States as of January 2019. Despite improving survival rates (Simon, 2020), cancer remains a life-threatening disease, and those who experience it often have a need for increased social support (Atkins, 2016). “Cancer is a disease that disrupts lives, identity, and involves emotional adjustment. The process of dealing with this illness is physically and emotionally arduous, and in reality, separates cancer patients from healthy society in profound ways. The experience of cancer is associated with a change within social relationships” (Atkins, 2016, p. 260). This change in some cases involves an outpouring of support from those around the individual with cancer, but at other times, the individuals themselves must actively seek out support from medical professionals, support groups, or online sources to meet their needs (Kim, Shah, Namkoong, McTavish, & Gustafson, 2013).